Minor and intermediate surgeries in lung transplant recipients

• Published in: Clinical transplantation Vol. 26; no. 3; pp. E242 - E245
• Main Authors: Kramer, Mordechai R., Krilo, Yori, Fuks, Leonardo, Shitrit, David
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Denmark Blackwell Publishing Ltd 01.05.2012
• Subjects: anesthesia; complications; Female; Follow-Up Studies; Humans; Lung Diseases - complications; Lung Diseases - mortality; Lung Diseases - surgery; Lung Transplantation; Male; Middle Aged; outcome; Postoperative Complications; Prognosis; Reoperation; Retrospective Studies; surgery; Surgical Procedures, Operative - mortality; Survival Rate
• ISSN: 0902-0063; 1399-0012
• DOI: 10.1111/j.1399-0012.2012.01633.x

Background Only limited data exist regarding the incidence and outcome of surgical procedures following lung transplantation (LTX). Methods A retrospective analysis of surgical procedures performed in all LTX patients (n = 250) between 1997 and 2008. Results Of 250 patients who underwent LTX, 68 (27.2%) required 154 surgical procedures. Mean age was 53 ± 13 yr. Mean interval between LTX and surgery was 41 ± 40 months. Mean follow‐up was 21 ± 9.4 months. Fourteen (9.1%) emergency operations were performed. Sixty patients (39%) underwent general anesthesia, 12 (7.8%) regional anesthesia, and 82 (53%) local anesthesia. Two patients required a major surgical procedure, while 76 of the procedures (49.4%) were intermediate, and 76 were minor surgeries. Only two patients (0.8%) developed complications (one infectious and one bronchospasm). One patient (0.4%) died following surgery as a result of septic shock. Conclusions Minor and intermediate procedures can be performed safely in LTX patients without associated morbidity or mortality.